The unpredictable nature of the Championship this season means there may yet be another twist to come but with only three games to play West Bromwich Albion really should not blow it now. Victory over their bitter local rivals gives them a two-point lead at the top and must have been all the sweeter for being fully deserved.

With so much at stake for both clubs this was never going to be a tepid affair. Tony Mowbray's team looked confident from the start and Ishmael Miller rose unchallenged to head Zoltan Gera's cross on to the roof of the net in the fifth minute. Gera then headed a Jonathan Greening cross against the angle of the post and bar, Kevin Phillips almost turned the Hungarian's intelligent free-kick past Wayne Hennessey and the young Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper had to block Miller's shot with his feet.

Wolves' only effort in that time was a Sylvain Ebanks-Blake header which looped over the bar but the home side gradually began to play their way into the game. Ebanks-Blake, scorer of nine goals in 15 games since being signed from Plymouth, began to make his considerable physical presence felt and Michael Gray's low shot, comfortably saved by Dean Kiely, presaged two scrambles in the Albion goalmouth.

As ever the Baggies' defending appeared less than secure but going forward they always looked dangerous and it took another fine save by Hennessey to tip Paul Robinson's free-kick over the bar.

The pattern in the second half was similar, with Albion the more accomplished team and thus enjoying the majority of possession. Shortly before the hour, Phillips, from the edge of the area, thumped a shot against Hennessey's right-hand post but moments later the striker turned

provider, bringing down a 40-yard ball, skipping past his marker and squaring for Gera to side-foot home from close range. True to their nature Albion did not sit back and almost paid the price when Kiely had to beat away Darron Gibson's shot.

"Nobody's getting carried away," said Mowbray. "Norwich away on Saturday will be our sixth match in 18 days and we'll need to find another performance there."

"We gave every last drop and could have got something out of it. I'm delighted with the way we played," said the Wolves manager, Mick McCarthy, whose team still have a game in hand in the battle for a final play-off place.